Boston Red Sox and David Ortiz are trying to beat the clock and sign deal

(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)Boston Red Sox's David Ortiz will become a free agent this weekend if a new contract is not signed.

The clock is ticking on the David Ortiz negotiations, which will change if he becomes a free agent at midnight Friday.

Latest reports are that the Red Sox and Ortiz are still trying to wrap up a deal before that happens.
The Boston Herald reported a deal was "in the works,'' with no guarantee it would be done before the deadline. If midnight Friday arrives with no deal, Ortiz could negotiate with other teams.

From the standpoint of the club, even one premium offer from the outside would ratchet up the cost of keeping the last player left from both the 2004 and 2007 world champions, and still their best home run threat.

From Ortiz' standpoint, what if no one else wants him? Interest last year was restricted to Baltimore and Toronto, neither of which seemed willing to stake a fortune on an aging designated hitter.

That would leave to come back to the Red Sox, who could then more or less dictate their own terms. That might sound like a solution, but it would hardly be ideal.

It could easily cause Ortiz to react as bitterly as he did last year, when he felt a one-year contract was a sign of disrespect. The deal was for $14.575 million, just about what Ortiz wants per year in his next contract.

The prospect of a sensitive superstar, returning to Boston in a sour mood because he felt he had a bad deal shoved down his throat, does not bode well for a team that wants to put two years of turmoil behind it. That will be a lot easier if a sunnier, productive David Ortiz is its marquee face.

Ortiz' 2012 season proved Ortiz still had a lot of pop in his bat. He hit 23 home runs with 60 RBIs, and his .318 average was second best of his career.

It also proved aging athletes come with an injury risk. Ortiz missed 71 of the last 72 games with an Achilles strain.

That has not scared off the Red Sox, but it might have lowered their price. It also gave other teams something to think about.

The Red Sox are said to be OK with the two-year length, but not the $25 million to $30 million Ortiz is seeking. Both sides have been amicable and optimistic throughout these talks, but the absence of a deal indicates the money gap is indeed a formidable sticking point.

It does put a more positive spin on the likelihood of a deal at some point. The good news for Red Sox fans is that by all accounts, the negotiations remain positive with a goal of solution, as opposed to acrimony developing because they are stalled.

The Red Sox have made it a point, several times, to let the world know that Ortiz is wanted. The player has changed his own rhetoric to say he wants nothing more than to wear the Boston uniform for the rest of his career.

That does not guarantee a deal, but it will probably be of great help in getting one done.

If Ortiz becomes a free agent, the Red Sox are expected to file a qualifying offer of $13.3 million for one year. That would put them in line for a draft pick if he signs with another team.

Outfielder Cody Ross, another player the Red Sox have shown interest in retaining, seems likely to become a free agent. The Atlanta Braves are reportedly interested, and other teams could follow suit.